Gasket



` Patented Oct. 2l, 1941 William W. Boy

Tulsa, Okla., assigner to d Flexitallic Gasket Company, Camden, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application April 12, 1940,'seria1 No. 329,255

(c1. zas-s2) 2 Claims.

This invention relates to gaskets of the spirally wound species and usually composed of a metallic binder strip with an Iintervening non-metallic or brous material filler. Jackets of the indicated type become injuriously affected when subjected to high temperatures and,prevssures, for example when the illler consists of asbestos it crystallizes around 500 to 550 Fahrenheit. Another disadvantage inhering to such gaskets is the development of leak voids when subject to pressures above 150 pounds due to moisture working through the filler wick fashion; this objectionable attribute being more apparent when the gaskets are used in joints subject to the action of oils. To overcome the noted disadvantages it has been proposed to reinforce the gasket by aid of an endless non-compressible ring applied exteriorly and/or interiorly to the gasket, but such means develop a hard set in the gasket proper that seriously affects its durability. It has also been proposed to make an all-metal gasket of concentric rings of varying resistance but such gaskets have likewise been subject to objectionable set" with resultant depreciation in their effectiveness for maintaining a sealed joint.

'I'he primary object of this invention is to overcome all of the above recited disadvantages by providing an all metal spirally-wound gasket embodying a continuous strip binder with an associated illler of dissimilar or softer grade, the former of which retains its compressive resistivity while the latter is leak proof and devoid of wicking action.

Another object is to furnish an all metal spirally-wound gasket which positively compacts the illlex' with the binder, during the winding operation, into a unied ma and prevents subsequent development of any voids or air-hole during the life of the gasket even when subjected to pressures ranging up to 1000 pounds, and temperatures exceeding 1000 Fahrenheit.

A further object is the provision of a gasket of the above indicated species embodying a special springy binder-strip with a filler that ilows under compression and thereby adapts itself to any planar irregularity in the parts between which said gasket is interposed, as well as augmenting its adjustability to diil'erent joints, and consequently enhancing the sealing effect.

Subsidiary objects and ancillary advantages of this invention will appear as the nature thereof is better understood. said invention substantially consisting of the respective items employed in K l .F1871 'isa plan view' of a gasket constructed and correlation as hereinafter disclosed, illustrated by the accompanying sheet of drawings wherein similar reference characters are used throughout the views, and thereafter more particularly dened in the concluding claims.

In the drawing:

accordance with this invention and ready for insertion into a pipe joint, for instance.

Fig. 2 is'a radial section, on an exaggerated scale, taken as indicated by the arrows II-II in the preceding flgllre, and Fig. 3 is a similar section .illustrating how the illler strip ows under compression into sealing unication with the binder. as hereinafter fully set forth; said section also showing a\1ninor variation in the winding ofthe binder toprovide an intermediate reinforcement.

In the following detailed explanation of a preferred embodiment of this invention specific l terms will be employed for the sake of clarity;

include all technical but it is to be understood that such terms are used in a descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation. Each specific term is intended to equivalents which may combine and operate in a similar manner to accomplish an analogous purpose.

Referring more in detail to the drawing which has been made from actual specimens, the novel gasket of this invention is comprehensively designated by the reference character 5 and, conveniently, is of annular form. This gasket 5 preferably consists of a continuous stainless steel strip binder 6, wound edgewise in the'form of a spiral,

with interposed medially abutting aluminum strip fillers 1, simultaneously wound therewith. Although stainless steel strip is specified for the binder 6 and aluminum strip for the filler 1. it is to be expressly understood that other metal strips. as hereinafter mentioned, possessing like properties of springiness and flow capacity, respectively. may be employed.

Prior to forming the gasket i, the strip binder and illlers 6, 1 are all ilat but. incidental to the winding operation, the former is lengthwise shaped to the cross-section shown in Fig. 2. that is to say it is preferably fashioned to denne a central 'corrugation I with anking :dats l the fabrication of the gasket, their combination of appropriate dimensions. wound strip fillers 'I are fed of the corrugation l and become deformed or are caused to ilow into the cross-section shown in Fig. 2 with the anking edges Il forced outwardly beyond the corresponding edges il of the strip binder vI, while the abutted edges approxi- 'The concurrently in to abut' medially mately assurre the undulate formation indicated by the juncture I2, whereby initial continuous spiralized voids I3 of minute proportions result. It is also to be observed that the respective strip fillers 1 are more or less regularly compressed intermediate their edges, as indicated at Il, while continuous edgeclearances or grooves I5 intervene the respective binder and ller convolutions.

In building up or spinning the gasket 5 the strip binder 6 is initially wound upon itself to form overlapping inner convolutions providing a substantially rigid reinforce I6; and correspondingly, when a sufficiency of the strip fillers 1 have been convoluted jointly with the binder 6,

to produce the desired diameter of gasket I, said binder 6 is again wound upon itself to provide an outer substantially vrigid reinforce I1; while the respective terminal ends of the binder 6 clinched at I8 or otherwise permanently/"ebrinected to the underlying binder. Alternatively the gasket 5 may be provided with one or more intermediate reinforces I9, as shown in Fig. 3, by overlapping convolutions of the binder strip 6,when the gasket is intended for service under extremely high pressures, or is of wide proportions.

When a gasket 5 produced as above set forth is subiected'to compression it will be apparent that the strip ller 1 will be inwardly forced relative to both planar surfaces defined by the strip binder edges II, withresultant mutual expansion to eliminate the hair line voids I'3 as weil as filling up the edge groovings I5, while the binder 6 still retains its springiness or inherent tendency to oppose the compressive and radial strains, to which such gaskets are generally subjected. In other words, as the gasket 5 is compressed the hair line voids I3 and edge groovings I5 are eliminated with the strip ller abutting edges forced into mutual planar relation as indicated at 20 in Fig. 3. It will likewise be obvious that the greater the degree of compression applied, or the pressure to which the gasket 5 is subjected, the tighter Will the binder E and filler 1 become unified or bonded, to the total elimination of all interstitial voids or wicking tendency. Otherwise expressed the ller 1is solidly compacted crosswise of the binder S during theentire winding operation so that, when`subsequent compressive force is applied the gasket 5 becomes positively non-porous and, by virtue of the character of said filler, is rendered incapable of wicklngf -Although it has been found preferable to use edge-abutting fillers 1 so that they may flow easier during the winding operation: it kwill be self-evident that a single continuous filler strip of sufficiently malleable type can be equally well employed, in order to produce a leak-proof nonwicking gasket without departing from the fundamentals of this invention. It will furthermore be noted that a gasket 5 produced in accordance with this invention is inherently springy due to the character of the binder B, which considerably increases its sealing efficiency in use as well as correspondingly extending the life or serviceability; and enabling its re-use when removed from .a joint in other capacities.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that by this invention there is provided a gasket 5 composed of dissimilar metals one of which, the.

binder 6, is inherently springy and tenacious while ,theA 9ihr+.the--fll1er-1,-is softer,- malleable.. and dxc'tla so as to flow and take a positive set under varied loadings. Again the strip steel binder 6 insures strength resistance in the gas# ket 5 while the ductile-maileable filler 1 being confined radially of said gasket is forced to ow in a direction parallel to the axis, thereby lining all voids, tool marks, or other irregularities on the faces bearing on the gasket 5 in use; or, in other words, when the gasket 5 is formed there initially exists in both of its flat faces a multiplicity of clearances I5 or restricted spaces which, when said gasket is compressed, are automatically closed and sealed by the flowing filler 1.

Finally it is to be expressly noted that the flller strip 1 may consist of copper, zinc, tin, lead. soft iron, brass or bronze. and various bearing alloys which are compositions, in varying proportions, of any of such metals, according to conditions of service.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. As a new article of manufacture a high pressure all metal spirally-wound gasket comprising a fiat steel strip binder component, and a strip filler component of aluminum, said binder component incidental to winding being formed to embody a central corrugation with anking flats while retaining its inherent compressive resistiv- WILLIAM W. BOYD. 

